How Abrogation Occurs in Shariah
It is stated that just as a canceled note is never written upon that it has been canceled, the sign of its cancellation is that it no longer circulates in the market. The sign of abrogation of a hadith can also be known from the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. If it was practiced in the best of centuries (Khair al-Qurun), then that hadith is authentic and applicable; and if it was not practiced in the best of centuries, then that narration should be considered abrogated.
Answer:-
Firstly:-
Your example of Shariah rulings from currency proves that you do not have mastery in Islamic sciences, because when the government changes the currency, it continues to circulate in the market for a period, until gradually that currency returns to the State Bank, where it is burned and destroyed. Whereas in the lexicon, “Naskh” means the annulment of something, and in terminology, it indicates the end of a Shariah ruling.
The Divine instruction is:
فَيَنسَخُ اللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِي الشَّيْطَانُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ اللَّهُ آيَاتِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
Meaning, Allah erases the whisperings of Satan and strengthens His verses.
Keeping this definition in mind, it becomes clear that when a Shariah ruling is abrogated, it is abrogated immediately and another ruling takes its place. A clear example of this is the incident of the change of Qiblah in the Hadith books. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was in the state of prayer when the command came to face the Ka’bah instead of Bayt al-Maqdis, so he turned his face towards the House of Allah while still in prayer. The wisdom of this was also explained by Allah in Surah Al-Baqarah, that the revelation of this ruling during prayer was a test of following the Messenger—who follows and who does not?
Secondly:
Currency is issued by the government, and the government also has the right to cancel it; the market does not cancel it, as you have misunderstood. Similarly, in religion, the rulings are enforced by Allah (whether from the Quran or the blessed words of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم), and the right to abrogate them also belongs to Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. No market can abrogate them.
Thirdly:
If your intention with the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs is that no one acted upon an abrogated ruling, then this is an even greater indication of your ignorance, because many Companions continued to act upon some abrogated rulings for a period of time. For example, Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (رضی اللہ عنہ) was not aware of the abrogation of placing the hands on the knees during Ruku’, and Ibn Abbas (رضی اللہ عنہ) believed in temporary marriage (Mut’ah) for a period of time. (Bukhari and Muslim)
If your meaning is that during the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, a certain Shariah ruling was not acted upon because it had been abrogated, then there is a detailed explanation.
(1) The issue arose during the time of the Caliphs, and they acted upon the abrogating ruling because the previous ruling had been abrogated. And this was implemented without objection.
(2) If a matter did not arise during the time of the Caliphs and the ruling is not proven to be abrogated from the Quran and Hadith, then it is not abrogated; rather, it is part of the Shariah system and the constitution of Islam. Later jurists’ opinions cannot abrogate it. Yet, you cannot even provide one such example against us. This is why you initially referred to the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs but in the end included the “best of generations” as well, and perhaps by this you mean Imam Abu Hanifa, who abrogates whatever he wishes. But those who scrutinize also keep the Day of Judgment in mind, my brother! You are seeking solutions to issues through such trickery, but the solution to issues lies in the Quran and Hadith. Follow them, and may Allah grant success.
Fourthly:
Can you give even one example from the era of the Rashidun Caliphate or the entire period of the best of centuries where the Ummah accepted the abrogation of a Shariah ruling solely based on someone’s fatwa or statement, while there was no evidence of abrogation in the Quran and Hadith? We openly challenge all innovators and misguided people around the world to present even one such example, but no wise person from anywhere in the world can provide even one example of this. ان شاء اللہ
